Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
how do you interpret the blood test levels to understand what is going on with flairs. I have had severe Joint pain and stiffness since the beginning of the year my PC in may had me go see a Rumey. he did'nt explain what the blood tests were for and im just wondering how to interpret them so i can see if i am making progress.
I started out taking a bunch of anti-inflammatory they didn't really do anything till they added prednisone to them and then i started mtx at 6 pills once a week which made me very sick so my Rumey changed me to injections last week. so far i haven't had the bad side-effects of the pills am also taking folic acid every day any help would be grateful.
Kimberly
I started out taking a bunch of anti-inflammatory they didn't really do anything till they added prednisone to them and then i started mtx at 6 pills once a week which made me very sick so my Rumey changed me to injections last week. so far i haven't had the bad side-effects of the pills am also taking folic acid every day any help would be grateful.
Kimberly
The blood tests for this won't show direct cause & effect. The anti-inflammatories and prednisone may lower your ESR or CRP readings over time, but they won't do anything to change the course of the underlying disease. Mtx is often the first real treatment given. It can take awhile to have an effect. How long have you been on it?
I was diagnosed in June of 2012 with seronegative RA. My Dr treated this very aggressively, which is why I think I am doing as well as I am. I have since become seropositive.
Prednasone is something I had hoped to totally avoid. Celebrex was usually enough for those times when I hurt - thank to the biologics, that was not to often. I did have a 2 week time frame a few months ago where I did reluctantly did need to go on prednisone.
It takes time. Hopefully, you will be helped soon.